A new Kaiser Health Tracking Poll released today found that Republicans are on the wrong course again, as 57% of respondents oppose their efforts to defund Obamacare.

The Kaiser Health Tracking Poll found that by a margin of 57%-36%, Americans oppose the Republican efforts to defund Obamacare. Democrats most strongly disapprove at 81%-15%. Independents disapprove by a margin of 53%-39%, but Republicans approve of the idea 60%-34%. Those who hold a favorable view of the ACA disapprove of the the efforts to defund the law 83%-14, and those who hold an unfavorable view support defunding 60%-33%.

This graphic shows that nearly 70% of Americans believe that using the budgetary process to defund Obamacare is not how our government is supposed to work:

If the Republican Party caves to the right and shuts down the government in an effort to defund Obamacare, they will be courting an epic political disaster. Republicans will be taking a stand that is unpopular with nearly 60% of the country. Politically, shutting down the government over Obamacare could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back in the 2014 elections.

A majority of Americans don’t support a government shutdown, or the defunding of the ACA. Mitch McConnell and many of the Senate Republicans are likely to hold out against the defund movement, but weak kneed John Boehner and his far right House caucus could shutdown the government with glee.

This is setting up a situation where the unpopular and out of control House Republicans drag down their entire party with their extremism.